The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-08-25
"A Contrast. -


If freemen. They have so persistently |
charged that the Republicans are bossed |
oy Gen. Malone, that they really had come
10 believe there is something i'll it, and as
their policy has been to try to initiate the
Republicans in everything; to adopt eve
rything that the Republicans have sup !
ported, whether pertinent to the present
condition or not, they have eagerly and
servilely placed themselves under the
most pronounced ''bossism" that has ever
been known in Virginia or elsewhere. At
Roanoke, there was the manifestation OF
the most craven submission to boss dlcta-
ton. There was not independence enough
to raise a whisper against the policy Boss
Barbour outlined-not whimper was
heard against the adoption OF platform
stolen, IN most part, from the Republicans
and in direct conflict, not only with the
Democratic National platform. but with
the record of the Democratic President
and Secretary of the Treasury, and IN con-
flict with the whole history and Legislation
of the Democratic party for the past half
century.
Notwithstanding this stubborn fact. the
Rockingham Register has the effrontery TO
refer to the action of the Roanoke Con-
vention as evidence of the harmony that
exists in the Democratic party, and the
oneness of sentiment on the issues pre-
sented in the platform there adopted! 1t
is known that every important resolve
| that was there formulated is in direct an
tagonism to the record and policy OF the
party: that it was simply qualification to
adopt the platform, and that the simu-
lated acquiescence in it was the re-
suit of the most cowardly submission
| to bossism that was ever placed upon re-
cord in this State. The convention was
called by Mr.. Barbour against the protest
of the leading influences of his party out
side of himself. But Mr.. Barbour knew
what he was after. His object was to gel
full representation of his party togeth
Ell. and to lay down the law to them. Hi
outlined the policy of the Convention an(
made it known what he expected of then
and that there must be no question OF hi
authority either as to the adoption OF TIT
platform, or the appointment of the exec
utiye committee. lie was made supreme
autocrat of the Virginia Democracy, ant
there was not man in the Convention
who had the independence and the courag
to say word against it.
In contrast with this kind OF harmon
our contemporary calls attention to tn
recent conference in Petersburg OF Re
publicans. There is contract, and a yer
marked one. In the Democratic confer
' ence at Roanoke there was shown fran
and undsguised purpose" to steal Reput
lican ideas, at the order of Mr.: Barbour
b for Support and endorsement. in tn
pending contest. thus confessing to tn
: necessity for regulating the acts and rf
cord of the Democratic party, ard admit
l ting that the Virginia Democracy coul
make no appeal to the people upon its ow
- policies and ideas. 1t was publ
u abandonment of the Democratic part.
" without the courage to surrender the nam
an insiduous attempt todeceive the PEI
g pie upon vital public questions, with I'll
d full knowledge that there was no purpos
3 and no possibility of enforcing the ldef
! promulgated through the National Demo
% cratic party, so far as the platform relate
Ii to national questions. The whole pr
{ ceedings were simply an insult to the il
telligence Of the State and an assumptlo
u that the people are as INSCRIPTIONS an
u CONSCIOUSNESS as the politicians VIII
- enacted the farce at Roanoke.
IL The Petersburg conference was nj
y called to adopt platform. The Republ
~ can party does not need a formal declar
. tion of principles every new moon.
'e stands where it has always stood upon tt
IL economic questions now before the coul
- try, and is not afraid to appeal to its +
~ cord and maintain its past enactments
applicable to this and all future contest
There are no State officers to elect tn
u fall, and consequently there was no occ
sion for a State Convention, for it coul
y have done nothing more than reaffirm tt
u policies and principles which distinguis
% the party as the most thoroughly Amer
can political organization that has ever e.
20 listed in this country. The Virginia II
10 publicanS are in accord with the Nation
Republican party, and in full accord viii
q it's position on the repeal of the intern
. revenue laws, national aid to public ed
cation, protection to home Industries al
~ American labor, and kindred interests.
~ conference of Republicans called lat al
~ county seat in the State, at any tim
u would have no contention over any OF tt
Il issues to which the national party is con
y mitted. 1t is party Of welldefined pri
ciples; of consistent policies and answer
81 ing convictions. 1t was to reconcile l
~ differences, nor to adopt any new pOll'
- that few Republicans met in Peter
burg, at the instance of the Chat
y man of the State Committee. 1t WI
u simply to compare opinions as to ii
condition of the party, and to determine
u the best me thoas to present to the people!tl
issues of the campaign, to which the part
is committed, and as to which there are
contentious.
There is, indeed, striking. and signi
y cant contrast, not only between the nece
d stiles which operated in the two cases. h'
in the outcome. In the case OF the Roa
oke Convention, the Democrats had to
pud late the record of the National part
II and sneak Oh to the Republican platform
/ in obedience to the command of their in
perious "boss.'' And there was not mai
hood enough in the whole body to evoke
u breath of protest at this humiliation. A
u Peter sburg it was simply determined tn;
U there was no occasion for State CONVEX
tion. and that it was only necessary
{ issue an address. reiterating the we
. known principles of the party, and SUI
hitting to the judgment of the peop
whether the Republican or the Democrat
party is to be entrusted with the contrt
Il of the legislative department OF the Stat
= government.
Itisacontrast the people will understan
and appreciate and as TO which they wi
VI have no difficulty in deciding in Moven
Der next.